| Your child watched the movie, The Mighty | | | | balanced. |
| Ducks, and now they're gung ho about playing | | | | |
| ice hockey. You have never even set foot | | | | In most house leagues, everyone plays an |
| inside an ice rink, so you're wondering where | | | | equal amount of time. No one is benched for |
| to begin. Here are some helpful tips to guide | | | | lack of skill. The team will usually have two |
| you through the process. | | | | practices for every one game they play. At |
| | | | most rinks, the younger players have the |
| ICE SKATING INSTRUCTION | | | | earliest time slots, so don't be shocked if |
| | | | your player has a 6:00 AM ice slot on both |
| It's seems obvious, but some people forget | | | | Saturday and Sunday mornings. You'll need to |
| that ice hockey is played on ice - and if you | | | | be at the rink 30 minutes early to give your |
| can't skate, you can't really play. So, the | | | | child plenty of time to change into their |
| first step is enrolling your child in a good | | | | equipment. These early morning sessions give |
| ice skating program. Don't be put off if the | | | | the parents a chance to moan and groan |
| instructor at your local rink is a figure | | | | together and, believe it or not, is quite a |
| skater. That's not unusual at all. Figure | | | | good bonding experience - especially if |
| skaters understand how to use the edges of | | | | there's coffee involved. |
| the skates and can teach your child the | | | | |
| important basics about how to move forward, | | | | Practices are very important at this level. |
| make turns and, most importantly, how to | | | | The kids have more actual time handling the |
| stop. Typically, a learn to skate program | | | | puck and skating in a practice than they do |
| would be about 8 - 12 weeks of weekly | | | | in a game scenario. Games are viewed as a |
| instruction. You can usually rent hockey | | | | reward for working hard in practice. |
| skates from the ice rink at this stage. | | | | Encourage your child to take practices |
| | | | seriously and not goof off. This work ethic |
| HOCKEY INITIATION CLASS | | | | will carry them through the advanced levels |
| | | | when they're older. |
| Once your child knows how to do the basic | | | | |
| skating moves, it's time to move onto hockey | | | | With house teams, there is one coach (who's |
| instruction. In this class they'll learn the | | | | usually a Dad of one of the players on the |
| basic hockey equipment, the rules of the | | | | team), along with one or two assistant |
| game, and will start to get a feel for using | | | | coaches. The assistants might be Dads, or |
| their new skating skills in conjunction with | | | | they could be older players who want to help |
| the hockey equipment. This class is a must | | | | out. Also, there's a team Mom who's selected. |
| for kids who want to play. Often, the | | | | She typically comes up with a snack schedule, |
| facility will rent out the hockey gear so you | | | | as well as delegating any other volunteer |
| won't have to make a major investment in | | | | jobs that need to be filled. Some rinks |
| equipment until you're sure your child likes | | | | require teams to have a volunteer run the |
| it and wants to continue. | | | | timeclock or fill out the score sheet. Most |
| | | | rinks require one parent volunteer to hang |
| BUYING HOCKEY GEAR | | | | out in the penalty box to help the kids open |
| | | | and close the door (as well as to calm any |
| A lot of parents who are new to the game of | | | | tempers). The best thing you can do for your |
| hockey get sold a bill of goods when it comes | | | | child is to be open to helping out. It takes |
| to purchasing hockey equipment for their | | | | a lot of teamwork from the parents to make it |
| child. There is no reason to buy new | | | | all work. If you approach it with a willing |
| equipment for a beginner. The only pieces | | | | attitude, you're ahead of the game. |
| you'll want to buy new are a helmet, a wooden | | | | |
| hockey stick, and a hockey jock. If you buy | | | | PARENT SPECTATORS |
| everything else second-hand, that's just | | | | |
| fine. Used hockey gear is easy to find online | | | | The worst thing to see at a youth hockey game |
| through hockey auction sites specializing in | | | | is a parent who's out of control with their |
| selling used hockey gear. These can be a | | | | emotions. If you take away nothing else from |
| great place to find a real bargain. Rather | | | | this article, please remember this: It's just |
| than going to your local hockey shop and | | | | a game. Your kid will most likely not make it |
| paying hundreds of dollars for brand new | | | | to the NHL (and if they do, that's great |
| equipment, look for used instead. It just | | | | too), and (most importantly) if your kids |
| makes more sense. | | | | plays this game for many years, you'll be |
| | | | seeing these same coaches, parents, and |
| SIGNING UP FOR A "HOUSE" LEAGUE TEAM | | | | players for a very long time. Don't burn any |
| | | | bridges because you'll probably end up |
| When most kids start out (especially if they | | | | regretting it. |
| are Mites - ages 7 and 8), they will need to | | | | |
| start out in a "house" league, also known as | | | | CONCLUSION |
| a "rec" league. This is the best place for | | | | |
| kids to start out and develop their game. All | | | | Hopefully, this has given you some valuable |
| the kids sign up and usually there is some | | | | information to get your son or daughter |
| sort of an evaluation session. All the | | | | started in ice hockey. However far your |
| coaches for all the teams are present and | | | | child decides to go with the game, the |
| they have the chance to take a look at all | | | | experience they will gain in teamwork, |
| the kids during this practice session. Then, | | | | camaraderie, sportsmanship, and |
| the teams are selected, making an effort to | | | | self-discipline will be invaluable as they |
| even out the talent so the teams are | | | | mature into adulthood. |